Installation and licence guide

On Windows, Genomics LIMS installs with everything it needs, including its database. Labs can also run a central server that several people use from their browsers.

1. Install on Windows

You need Windows 10 (1809 or later) or Windows 11, 64-bit, and about 1 GB of free disk space.

1. Run GenomicsLIMS-<version>-Setup.exe. Administrator rights are not needed.
2. Open Genomics LIMS from the Start menu. The first start takes a little longer while the database is prepared.
3. The sign-in page shows your user name and temporary password. Sign in and change the password, then add your users under Admin → Users.

A private PostgreSQL server is included. It runs only while the application is open and can only be reached from that computer. Uninstalling keeps your records.

To use a PostgreSQL server your lab already runs, choose Connect to another database in the Genomics LIMS Start menu folder.

2. Install on Linux

You need a 64-bit desktop distribution such as Ubuntu 22.04 or later, GTK 3 and WebKitGTK (on Ubuntu, the libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0 package), and PostgreSQL 14 or later.

mkdir -p ~/genomics-lims
tar -xzf GenomicsLIMS-<version>-Linux-x64.tar.gz -C ~/genomics-lims
~/genomics-lims/linux-x64/GenomicsLIMS.Desktop

On first start, a setup window asks for the PostgreSQL server, database, user and password. It tests the connection and can create the database. The sign-in page then shows where the first administrator’s password is saved.

3. The demo

Without a licence, Genomics LIMS runs as a 30-day demo with every feature, for up to 3 users and 200 samples. When it ends, records can still be viewed, searched, printed and exported, but nothing new can be recorded until a licence is installed.

4. Install a licence

1. Open Admin → License and copy the installation ID (it starts with GLI-).
2. Send it with your request. We email back a licence file, license.lic, issued for that installation.
3. On Admin → License, install the file. You can also copy it to C:\ProgramData\GenomicsLIMS\ on Windows or ~/.config/GenomicsLIMS/ on Linux and restart the app.

The licence file is signed. Editing it in any way makes it invalid, and it works only on the installation it was issued for. Keep a copy with your backups.

5. Updates

Open Settings → Software Update → Check for Updates. When a new version is available, the app shows its notes and installs it with one click. Before installing, it checks that the update is signed and that the download is complete and unchanged. Your settings, licence and database are kept. Pro and Premium licences include the updates released during the licence year.

6. Backups

Back up the database regularly from Settings → Backup & Restore, and keep the backups on another computer or drive. Keep a copy of license.lic with them.

Need help with installation? Use the request form and choose “Something else”.